Child psychologist makes desperate plea for funds so that she can help children plagued by mental health problems

More children with suicidal thoughts could miss out on the free treatment they need unless a not-for-profit mental health service gets more funds.

Gail Thornton offers free counselling services to those who don't meet the criteria for children's mental health services (CAMHS) as part of her organisation Time To Listen.

But the psychologist, who has helped scores of children troubled by abuse, bullying and even suicidal thoughts, has said a lack of funding means she has had to make heartbreaking decisions to turn some youngsters away.

"It’s horrendous to know that there are some people out there who I can’t help," she said.

"We are already working with some families that don’t pay us. We do it because we're not for profit but it’s heart-breaking when all of our spaces are taken up.

"At the end of the day we have bills to pay so I can’t keep working with people for nothing."

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Ms Thornton set up Time To Listen after previously working in a similar role for Hull City Council.

The group is based at Marble House in the city centre where tailored sessions are provided at a cost of £40 an hour.

Ms Thornton wants more resources to help children, and she also wants more people to stop jumping to conclusions when they see children with mental health problems.

Gail has helped lots of people with mental health problems
Gail has helped lots of people with mental health problems

She said: "One of the biggest problems that I have is that people tend to look at the children and ask what is wrong with them instead of asking 'what has happened to them?'

"We are too quick to pathologise children. Often, they are behaving in a certain way as means of a coping strategy for them and because it's the only way they know how to be.

"Rather than saying they've got ADHD or this or that, let's talk to them about what has happened in their lives to find out why they are behaving in that way.

"Attachment issues are far more of a problem than is recognised and it's bad when people are just saying that certain kids are out of control.

"They are never told that they are damaged and often they don't know how to deal with things so they behave in a certain manner.

"The sessions that I do help them to understand, face up to their past and come up with a different coping strategy that is better for them and society as a whole."

Two years ago, Ms Thornton was given a £5,000 Neil Hudgell Trust grant which enabled her to provide 125 sessions free of charge.

However, with that pot now drying up, Ms Thornton wants as many people and businesses to support her bid for extra funding.

"I am desperately trying to get funding so we can support these families and we need as much help as we can get," she said.

"We’re putting a bid together for lottery money to try and get this therapy funded for people who desperately need it but can’t access it anywhere else.

"We’ve had to fight hard as it is to get funding but there are so many more families out there in Hull that can’t access that funding and can’t afford to pay for therapy on their own."